A Thanksgiving
For all Thy blessings given there are many to thank Thee, Lord,
But for the gifts withholden I fain would add my word.
For good things I desired that barred me from the best,
The peace at the price of honour, the sloth of a shameful rest;
The poisonous sweets I longed for to my hungering heart denied,
The staff that broke and failed me when I walked in the way of pride;
The tinsel joys withheld that so content might still be mine,
The help refused that might have made me loose my hand from Thine;
The light withdrawn that I might not see the dangers of my way;
For what Thou hast not given, I thank Thee, Lord today.
Annie Johnson Flint
Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
A Thanksgiving for Hard Things
Thank You, my Father that Your wisest choosing,
To my own wayward heart is ever proving,
That some glad joy I longed my life to garnish,
Would but have left me marred with rust and tarnish.
Thank You, Lord, for that most kind depriving,
Which mercifully withstood my soul's mad driving,
Has kept me from some greater, horribler loss,
While teaching me the glory of Thy cross.
Thank You that the smaller scars I have sustained,
Have kept me, Lord, from what I might have gained,
Of deeper wounds that span the years of life,
And bear the loathsome fruit of constant strife.
Thank You for Your thoughtful little tokens,
Reminding that I'm loved, though sorely broken;
And so I find these smaller blessings meet,
To bring me here in worship at Thy feet.
Thank You, Lord, that that which seemeth good to Thee,
Hath overruled that which seemed so good to me,
And so withheld some earthly satisfaction,
That I might serve Thee here without distraction.
O Thank You, God, that confidence yet growing,
Can rest in Thy great wisdom, safely knowing,
Though troubles come which I can never tell,
Yet my Redeemer doeth all things well.
By Mary Stephens
Originally written in Nov. 2004
1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Mark 7:37 …He hath done all things well…
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Thank you, Mary, for these two poems about giving thanks for hard things. They have made me stop and tink about the things I have been going through and realize that they are God's will for me. And even if I don't understand His reasons are good and I hope I am learning from them what He intended me to learn. I love you! Keep up the good work!!
ReplyDeleteI love you too, Mom. Thank you for the encouragement.
DeleteI haven't looked at your blog in ages! I'm so happy that you and your parents were able to go to Australia for a visit. That must have been so wonderful to be there and for God to provide for your needs to get there. I can so relate to this post that God teaches us the most through the things sometimes that are the hardest. I learn about myself and especially my weaknesses and asking the Lord to help me with them. Children have a way of making you humble before God and before others. I am very thankful for the hard situations that God has brought into my life, either as a warning to save me from future dangers, or teaching me things through them. The bottom line is that God is faithful!
ReplyDeleteThanks, D Benoit! :-) I'm glad you were encouraged. So much in life should point us to God's grace and mercy. God help us to see things every day that grow our love for Him.
DeleteIt was amazing to go on a journey to Australia. It was so huge that sometimes I feel more emotional about it now than I did before it happened! :-) I know why - because there were so many, many hurdles to jump from start to finish and, like you say, God was faithful over and over again!